STAND. COM. REP. NO. 23

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 47

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 47 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State; and

(2) Require and appropriate funds for the Division of Animal Industry to develop that process through a biological aquatic risk-based framework.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; and Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's aquaculture industry makes significant contributions to the State's economy in diversified agriculture. By allocating resources toward the development of regulatory frameworks that prioritize sustainability and biosecurity, this measure ensures the protection of the State's local communities and natural resources while promoting growth in local aquaculture.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 47, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 47, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair